January has been a tumultuous month for the U.S. equities and stock exchange traded funds as the stronger U.S. dollar, overseas uncertainty, continued plunge in oil prices and weaker-than-anticipated earnings season pull on the markets.

Over January, the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 3.7%, the Nasdaq Composite decreased 2.6% and he S&P 500 fell 3.1%.

The CBOE Volatility Index has been ticking higher over January, ending at around 21, compared to its historical range of about 15 to 20. The increased uncertainty, notably from falling energy, has pushed investors to take a VIX and volatility hedge against potential turns in the S&P 500. [Hedge Against a Volatile Year with VIX ETFs]

Bullion has been strengthening as a safe-haven bet and a store of wealth, lifting gold mining stocks. Additionally, after the Swiss National Bank shocked financial markets by scrapping the franc’s peg to the euro, gold continued to find strength. Ongoing weakness in equities and spike in volatility helped gold assets gain through the month. [What a Week for Gold Miners ETFs]